Bridging academia and social media: Gallopping with the Critical Pony
The Critical Pony is a project designed to make the field of human geography more approachable and entertaining for a broad audience. Through bite-sized, engaging videos, this initiative tries to turn complex academic ideas into content that resonates on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts.
In a world where social media dominates how we consume information, the challenge of conveying accurate and accessible knowledge has never been more pressing. Misinformation runs rampant, attention spans are shrinking, and complex academic topics often remain confined to the ivory towers of universities.
The goal of the Critical Pony is to spark curiosity, foster dialogue, and bridge the gap between academia and the general public.
Breaking down big ideas
Human geography often deals with abstract and nuanced topics that are crucial to understanding our world, yet they can feel intimidating or irrelevant to those outside academic circles. The Critical Pony takes on the challenge of demystifying key concepts and research findings, covering themes like neoliberalism, gentrification, care work, degrowth, globalization, and political ecologies. By making these topics more accessible, the project aims to inspire viewers to think critically about the world around them.
Why short videos work
In today’s era of information overload, short-form video content has emerged as one of the most effective ways to capture and hold attention. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts are the go-to spaces for millions of people looking for quick, engaging, and digestible content. By leveraging these platforms, The Critical Pony is able to reach a diverse audience that includes students, educators, and curious individuals from all walks of life.
How this came about
I was fortunate to receive a GRC Short Grant which got the whole ball rolling. This allowed to work with professional filmmaker and editor Lukas Blum and writer Kyle Greenwood. Colleagues who are experts in their own fields were also consulted for specific topics: Special thanks to Luisa Gehriger, Soledad Castro Vargas, Finn Mempel, Christian Berndt and Christiane Meyer-Habighorst for their support.
Let’s collaborate!
More content will be uploaded in the coming days, so please stay tuned! If you have ideas for future videos, I am very open to collaborate. And if you like the content, please make sure to follow, like and subscribe. Together, let’s make academic knowledge not only accessible but also fun and engaging for everyone!
Xavier Balaguer Rasillo, Economic Geography